An interleague showdown between postseason contenders is set for Friday night. The Reds (11-8) are looking to build off of last year’s surprise playoff appearance. Cincinnati, despite a few notable injuries, has been carried by its pitching. As for the Twins (11-8), nobody could have foreseen this squad leading the AL Central. It’s early, but Minnesota looks vastly improved over 2025’s 70-win club.
The Twins are favorites (-175) over the Reds, with the over/under set at eight runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Friday’s showdown between Cincinnati and Minnesota on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Reds vs. Twins prediction, preview
Cincinnati has leaned on a group of underrated arms, supported by one of baseball’s premier defenses. Still, it’s safe to call Brandon Williamson a weak link in this rotation. Through 15.1 innings this season, the 28-year-old owns a 5.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and ten strikeouts. He’s had moments of greatness, such as 6.2 scoreless innings against Miami. However, Williamson has also gotten shelled; look no further than a six-run outing in March vs. Pittsburgh. In fact, the third-year pro has gotten a bit lucky. Per Savant, he’s responsible for a ghastly 7.38 expected ERA.
In theory, a trip to Target Field should serve as a get-right opportunity for Williamson. With that being said, sleep on these Twins at your own risk. They’re currently averaging an American League-best 5.42 runs per game. A whopping nine different players on the roster have launched at least two home runs. Leading the way is outfielder Austin Martin, who paces the team with a .947 OPS. Sluggers Byron Buxton and Josh Bell have been solid too.
For all their hitting prowess, the Twins offer the most reason for excitement on the mound. Youngsters Taj Bradley and Mick Abel have impressed in limited action. However, the ace of this staff is still Joe Ryan. Last season, the right-hander posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 194 strikeouts over 171.0 innings. He’s kept up the good work in 2026 via a 3.80 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9. Few arms in the game generate that many whiffs while maintaining exceptional control.
Ryan isn’t exactly a fireballer; his average fastball velocity is only 92.7 MPH. Still, you don’t need to be Nolan Ryan in order to flummox Friday’s opponents. The Reds have been slumping at the plate, averaging the NL’s second-fewest runs per game (3.37). Ryan has a fairly even pitch mix, utilizing a curveball (12%), splitter (10%) and slider (10%). Against all three off-speed pitches, Cincinnati owns a paltry .198 expected batting average. Just two players, Sal Stewart (.682) and Elly De La Cruz (.547), are slugging above .400.
Reds vs. Twins pick, best bet
Is Minnesota’s luck sustainable long-term? Probably not, but it’s clear that this squad will be more competitive than most expected. It helps that they have a bonafide ace in Joe Ryan to anchor the rotation. He gives the Twins a clear advantage on the mound this evening compared to the inconsistent Williamson. Cincinnati’s struggles at the plate only make a road win more difficult to envision on Friday.
